By choosing to post the reply below you agree to the rules you agreed to when joining Sailnet.
Click Here to view those rules.

Message:

Trackback:

Send Trackbacks to (Separate multiple URLs with spaces) :

Post Icons

You may choose an icon for your message from the following list:

No icon

Register Now

In order to be able to post messages on the SailNet Community forums, you must first register. Please enter your desired user name, your email address and other required details in the form below.Please note: After entering 3 characters a list of Usernames already in use will appear and the list will disappear once a valid Username is entered.

User Name:

Password

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Password:

Confirm Password:

Email Address

Please enter a valid email address for yourself.

Email Address:

Log-in

User Name

Remember Me?

Password

Human Verification

In order to verify that you are a human and not a spam bot, please enter the answer into the following box below based on the instructions contained in the graphic.

Click here to view the posting rules you are bound to when clicking the'Submit Reply' button below

Additional Options

Miscellaneous Options

Automatically parse links in text

Automatically embed media (requires automatic parsing of links in text to be on).

Automatically retrieve titles from external links

Click here to view the posting rules you are bound to when clicking the'Submit Reply' button below

Topic Review (Newest First)

08-16-2010 01:46 PM

COOL

I will cast my vote in favor of the Beneteau,
especially if it is the deep keel, tiller steered version.
I have sailed on, and raced against several Catalina 30s
although not a Mk II version. They sail fine in good breeze
and flat water, but are slow in light air and chop and must
carry a large headsail to stay powered up. The C30 is really
a retread of a early '70s design, so I would be expect the
B310 to perform much better in most conditions.

08-15-2010 12:19 PM

k1vsk

Most people tend to favor the boat they have/know - duh... People want to validate their choice and in most cases don't have experience with other boats so the answers these questions typically generate are usually loaded with all kinds of bias.
For all practical purposes, these boats are interchangeable. The only reason(s) for selecting one over the other are personal perception, the proof of which lies (I infer) in why you choose to limit your search to only B's and C's. There are a myriad of other mfgs making equivalent boats for similar money that are equally well built and outfitted.

About the best advice anyone can give you is ask your family, without imposing any biases or perceptions you have, which they prefer - if they aren't happy, you won't be...

08-15-2010 11:51 AM

brak

I think these are comparable boats in quality of build and maintainability etc (in my opinion both decent, not perfect). So, the decision really has to be based on what suits you more. I would make sure cabin layout, cockpit size and line positions etc all suit you. That way you'll never be completely unhappy with the boat, no matter what else is right or wrong.

Then again, personally, I'd choose Beneteau - I owned two so far, they weren't ideal but they served their purpose well enough and I can't complain much about either.

08-15-2010 09:29 AM

rockDAWG

Looks like Beneteau First 310 has more fun

08-15-2010 07:18 AM

JimsCAL

Two different boats. The Bene 310 is a racer that can cruise. The Cat 30 is a cruiser that can be used in club races. The Bene 310 rates 138 PHRF (very quick for a boat that size) and the Cat 30 rates 186 (pretty slow for a 30 footer). The Bene will be more fun to sail, while the Cat will have better cruising accomodations. The Bene would be my choice.

08-14-2010 10:09 PM

MooreVOLS

Beneteau First 310 vs. Catalina 30 MKII

I am currently looking at a 1992 Beneteau First 310 and a 1991 Catalina 30 MKII. The Beneteau is about 5k more. Both boats are very well maintained and ready to sail. Looking to mostly day sail on Erie with the occasional long weekend cruise with my my wife and son. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. (I am assuming a clean survey comes through for both.)